Stage set for 17th Naga Unification Day - Alezo has a big responsibility

Stage set for 17th Naga Unification Day - Alezo Venuh has a big responsibility

New Delhi 

'Unity of purpose' is a great mechanism that keeps humankind together and subsequently human societies progress through a host of evolutionary milestones.

In 2007, Naga underground leaders cutting across organisational lines joined handsand decided to work together with a unity of purpose. Late Isak Chishi Swu, then chairman NSCN-IM, had reportedly emailed from the Philippines stating that 'Naga Unification' started by the Sumi National workers from NSCN-IM and NSCN-K is a "positive" development and therefore all the Naga National workers should reconcile.

This was a good beginning and on Nov 22, 2007 the 'unification' card was pushed.

From NSCN (K) - C Singson, Jack Jimomi and Akato Chophy had attended the unification meeting among others while Azheto Chophy, Hevuku Yepthomi and Hothrung Yim represented the NSCN-IM.  

This year on the same day - that is Nov 22nd -- the GPRN/NSCN (Unification) will commemorate the 17th Naga Unification Day.

A grand function has been convened in Dimapur region under the aegis of President N B Neokpao Konyak and Ato Kilonser Alezo Venuh. 

In fact, for Alezo it will be the first such grand function to grace in his new position.

Alezo : New role for a soft-spoken Ideologue

"Your Commitment and solidarity towards reclaiming Naga political and historical rights....... is appreciated and deeply cherished," the invitation says.

The invitation has been extended to Naga Students' Federation (NSF), Eastern Nagaland Students Federation (ENSF), Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC), Nagaland Gaon Burah Federation (village elders) and Naga Council, Dimapur. 

The day has a significance of its own as this was the first step that led to the creation of Naga National Political Groups (NNPG). It is today better known as the 'umbrella organisation'of Naga underground groups and its main achievement so far has been the inking of the Agreed Position with Govt of India's interlocutor R N Ravi in 2017.

The Status Paper prepared by NNPG in coordination with the Govt of India is a detailed document to pursue the agenda of Peace and Development together.   

Sources also say on Nov 23, 2007, another milestone was achieved when an agreement was signed "with a view to end bloodshed and fratricidal killings among the warring Naga nationalist parties".

Thus, they say Naga Unification (of underground leaders and workers) was a process moved by like minded active workers.  

As time rolled by things also changed here and there - and sometimes these changes were drastic.

But nevertheless the clamour for unification, brotherhood and peace remain as permanent features and all these are certainly linked to an early Solution to the Naga issue.

Therefore, all eyes will be on Ato Kilonser, Alezo Venuh, and others in the NNPG to lead the path towards achieving the goal. 

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Ex POORVI PRAHAR stands as a testament to India's commitment to maintaining a robust Defence posture

 INDIAN ARMED FORCES SHOWCASE EXTRAORDINARY COMBAT CAPABILITIES IN Exercise - POORVI PRAHAR

In a significant display of military prowess, the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force jointly conducted Exercise POORVI PRAHAR demonstrating their unmatched warfighting skills in near-real combat scenarios. 

This comprehensive exercise validated the effectiveness of joint structures in intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance, rapid mobilization, deployment/redeployment and operational logistics.

Lt Gen Abhijit S Pendharkar, GoC, Spear Corps (3rd Corps) also participated.

The exercise highlighted the exceptional capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces as the units exhibited precision strike capabilities utilizing high-tech equipment to guarantee mission success. Ex POORVI PRAHAR showcased the strength of integration amongst the services and the evolved civil-military fusion essential for ensuring victory in operations.

Lt Gen RC Tiwari, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Eastern Command and Air Marshal I S Walia, senior Staff Administrative Officer from Eastern Air Command actively participated in the exercise, witnessing offensive manoeuvres in mountainous terrain supported by cutting-edge weaponry and equipment.  

Appreciating the clockwork precision exhibited by the participating troops, the Army Commander emphasized the importance of joint structures and mechanisms to enhance synergy among the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.

Integrated joint operations were conducted across multiple domains for the first time on such a large scale in the Eastern Theatre.

The exercise was a full-fledged display of the might of the Indian Armed Forces, featuring advanced weapons systems such as the M-777 Howitzer, the Navy's Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance aircraft P-8I, swarm drones, First Person View (FPV) drones and loitering munitions. 

Additionally, the latest helicopters like the Chinook and Light Combat Helicopter Prachand were employed to enhance operational effectiveness. 

During Ex POORVI PRAHAR, the Indian Armed Forces demonstrated their unmatched combat capabilities by executing complex operations that incorporated air, land and sea elements. 

The successful integration of third-dimensional warfare was adequately bolstered by new generation equipment, showcasing precision and efficiency in challenging terrain and dense Electronic Warfare environment. 

The exercise also involved a tri-services combat free fall on an objective by the special forces.

Ex POORVI PRAHAR stands as a testament to India's commitment to maintaining a robust defense posture through synergy and integration among its armed forces. 

The successful execution of this joint exercise not only reinforces the operational readiness of the Indian Armed Forces but also assures the nation that we are prepared to address any security challenge that may arise in the future.

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What's the Naga connection to Ibobi-Chidambaram cold war ?

 

What's the Naga connection to Ibobi-Chidambaram cold war ?

"Ibobi had pushed a line if Muivah visits native village, that land will go to Nagas"

New Delhi 

Blood is thicker than water. That's no rocket science. N Biren Singh must have had a blast when he got an opportunity on Tuesday to turn the table against P Chidambaram and the Congress party for the present 'Manipur mess'.

But people may say there is something called Meitei-Brotherhood; just like we have Tangkhul brotherhood, Tamil brotherhood or Bengali brotherhood !

Probably an Economics expert Chidambaram - who had accidentally become India's Home Minister after Shivraj Patil had to resign - could not grasp all that.

Like many wise Congressmen and women and intellectual Netas such as Jairam Ramesh; Chidambaram tweeted targeting Manipur's beleaguered Chief Minister. His missive was quite normal - and typical Congress-like.

'Nagaland Page' link

“It is more understanding: that the Meitei, the Kuki-Zo and the Naga can live together in one State only if they have genuine regional autonomy," he tweeted.

He also advised Prime Minister Narendra Modi "to give up his obstinacy, (and) visit Manipur".

He also wrote 'wisely' : "It is more wisdom: acknowledging that Mr Biren Singh, the chief minister, is the cause of the crisis" ,,, and that he should be removed.

Chidambaram might have got away with that had he known that even the word 'autonomy' for Kukis and Nagas do not go well with an overwhelming section of people in Manipur.

Hence Chidambaram's missive provoked Ibobi to swing into action. Moreover, the tweet had come from a leader whom he disliked. So he called up Congress president Mallikarjin Kharge and Chidambaram's tweet was easily "deleted".

But more importantly, there is a Naga connection to the Ibobi-Chidambaram cold war that many had almost forgotten. 

One should note that Biren Sngh is not the first 'polarised' Meitei leader. Some years back O Ibobi Singh had outsmarted the suave Chidambaram and to an extent even NSCN-IM leader Thuingaleng Muivah.

During UPA-regime, NSCN-IM general secretary wanted to visit his native village Somdal and PC (Home Minister) had green signaled the move on humanitarian grounds. 

A cool customer Ibobi during Delhi meet agreed about the plan and on return played up the Meitei people's most powerful card -- territorial integrity of Manipur.  The argument being - if Muivah comes to his native village, that portion of land would be taken away by 'Nagas'.

All these things do not happen only in Manipur or with the Meitei leaders. 

Biren Singh made a blistering attack on the former union minister and called him the  “root cause” of the present crisis in the state.

“I will say it openly. When he (Mr Chidambaram) was the (Union) Home Minister in the then Congress government, here in Manipur (Congress’s) O Ibobi was the Chief Minister. 

During their time, they brought a Myanmarese foreigner, Mr Thanglianpau Guite, a Myanmar-born who himself admitted in an interview that he contested an election for MP in Myanmar. 

That person is the chairman of the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) based in Myanmar,” he said.

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Congress leader and ex-Home Minister Chidambaram tweets, burns his finger !! "You (PC) the root cause of the present crisis" -- Biren Singh fires salvo

Armed-chair expertise from ivory towers in Delhi could be dangerous thing !

 P Chidambaram, Congress Rajya Sabha MP, got a taste of it. 

The Manipur Congress on Tuesday, Nov 20, distanced itself from party leader Chidambaram’s tweet on ‘X’ in relation to Manipur stating that it is his own view and opinion and not the view of the Congress party. 

For his part BJP leader and Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh also fired his salvo at the former Union Home Minister. 

Biren Singh said he was "surprised" by Chidambaram's post and accused Congress of being responsible for Manipur's troubles. 

“There are a few problems that we are facing due to the ignorance of the Central leaders during the Congress time. P Chidambaram is the root cause of the present crisis".  

Former Manipur CM and Congress leader Ibobi informed the media in Imphal that immediately after Congress party got 'information about the tweet', Manipur Congress leaders called Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to take immediate action against the tweet.

In response to the calls, Mallikarjun Kharge took action and the tweet was removed, informed Ibobi.

Earlier in the day Chidambaram tweeted, “It is more understanding: that the Meitei, the Kuki-Zo and the Naga can live together in one State only if they have genuine regional autonomy. 

It is more statesmanship: for the Hon’ble PM to give up his obstinacy, visit Manipur, and speak to the people of Manipur with humility and learn first hand their grievances and aspirations”.

“Rushing 5000 MORE central armed police jawans is not the answer to the Manipur crisis. 

It is more wisdom: acknowledging that Mr Biren Singh, the chief minister, is the cause of the crisis and removing him immediately,” said Chidambaram. 

The Centre has decided to send about 5,000 paramilitary troops to the state to tackle the situation.

In the tweet, he blamed Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh for the volatile situation in the Northeastern state. He also reiterated Congress stance that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself should visit the state to assuage the situation.

Biren Singh made a blistering attack on the former union minister and called him the  “root cause” of the present crisis in the state.

“I will say it openly. When he (Mr Chidambaram) was the (Union) Home Minister in the then Congress government, here in Manipur (Congress’s) O Ibobi was the Chief Minister. 

During their time, they brought a Myanmarese foreigner, Mr Thanglianpau Guite, a Myanmar-born who himself admitted in an interview that he contested an election for MP in Myanmar. 

That person is the chairman of the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) based in Myanmar,” he said.

 

Sickularism gang .... have more reasons to have chin-down; Trump 2.0 will make a shift toward strengthening US-India ties "at the expense of Pakistan"

Experts say Donald Trump’s choices Senator Marco Rubio and Congressman Mike Waltz signal a clear shift toward strengthening the US-India alliance.... but also likely at the expense of Pakistan.

“Trump’s senior appointees will likely be quite skeptical — if not hostile — toward deepening US-Pakistan ties, given their experiences in Afghanistan, their valuation of the US-India relationship, and their concerns over Pakistan’s relationship with China,” said Joshua White, a former senior advisor to the White House on South Asian Affairs. 

Shuja Nawaz, a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Centre, stresses that Pakistan’s role in US strategy remains largely confined to counter-terrorism, particularly in Afghanistan. “Pakistan’s utility to the US is primarily in counter-terrorism. It’s unlikely to rank high in terms of positive engagement,” Nawaz said.

The anticipated nomination of Mike Waltz as national security adviser is expected to further tilt the balance toward US-India defence cooperation. Waltz, a strong proponent of military collaboration with India, is also the co-chair of the Indian Caucus in Congress. 

He is expected to push for deepening the US-India partnership, especially as both countries desire to counter growing security challenges from China, says an article in Pakistan's leading English daily 'Dawn'.  

Uzair Younus of The Asia Group agrees that Trump’s appointees, particularly Rubio and Waltz, are likely to maintain a hardline stance toward Pakistan.

Younus also points to Rubio’s history of criticizing leaders who leverage anti-American sentiment for domestic political gain, a stance that could hurt Pakistan's political party PTI’s efforts to solicit Trump’s support to get Imran Khan released. 

It is worth pointing out that new Secretary of State Rubio is a known strong advocate for countering China.

In July 2024 he had introduced legislation aimed at elevating India’s status to that of a key US ally, reflecting the growing strategic defence and technology cooperation between the two nations. 

Rubio’s long-standing stance on South Asia, including efforts to limit US assistance to Pakistan over its support for Kashmiris’ struggle for freedom, further emphasises the policy direction. 

His bill titled “United States-India Defense Cooperation Act of 2024” sought a mandate that the US Secretary of State will have to track and report all instances in which Pakistan has used “offensive force, including the use of proxies” against India, provided safe havens to terror groups, and the assistance Pakistan has provided to militants in “the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir”.  

In a statement, Rubio also had said in July 2024, “Communist China continues to aggressively expand its domain in the Indo-Pacific region, all while it seeks to impede the sovereignty and autonomy of our regional partners. 

It’s crucial for the U.S. to continue its support in countering these malicious tactics. India, along with other nations in the region, is not alone.”

All these and more have left Pakistan worried and perhaps an influential section of Left-liberals leaking their wounds.  

Shuja Nawaz of Atlantic Council’s South Asia Centre also warned that Pakistan may not be high on the list of positive priorities of the Trump administration.

Waltz served in Afghanistan and will likely carry the memories of having lost comrades in the eastern region where the Haqqani Network operated, he said.

“He also might further subscribe to the Biden administration view that Pakistan is now in the Chinese lap,” Nawaz told 'Dawn' newspaper adding: “Pakistan will need to show that it can improve its economy to garner US support via the International Financial Institutions like the IMF, World Bank, and ADB.”

'Dawn' link

2Plus2 ... could be five/six : Team Trump and Team Modi in 2018, Delhi 

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Success to bring Peace in Naga hills will have a salutary impact in Manipur too !!

 Naga Solution - A Salvation route for PM in northeast 

Success to bring Peace in Naga hills will have a salutary impact

New Delhi 

The North East tribal Christians will be more than delighted to see a Solution to the long pending Naga issue.

PM Narendra Modi as a master of 'organic relationship' with mass Indians understand pretty well that it is much more important what/how you make people 'feel'. 

The NNPG - an umbrella organisation of small and big Naga underground groups - should not feel betrayed just because Modi and Home Ministry under him have reposed faith in a Chief Minister in Kohima and given him a freehand. 

Nagaland Page

The incumbent NDPP-BJP regime failed to convince the NSCN-IM leadership that Peace is at the doorsteps. Instead, it is trying to push another diversionary tactic and by now even Amit Shah hopefully understands the intent.

In times to come they will be also held accountable for taking the Naga society on the brink of divisions vis-a-vis Eastern Nagaland. FNT realisation is a simple case of admission that the people in these six districts do not trust Kohima administration.

There are 20 MLAS from Eastern Nagaland comprising six districts of Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Longleng and Shamatore. 

The seven Naga tribes from the region are - Konyaks, Sangtams, Changs, Phoms, Khiamniungans, Yimchungrus and Tikhirs. 

Those who know him, know India's Prime Minister as a man with guts and decisiveness; and hence it is time he should deliver. But it has to be step by step. Under the given situation, first it has to be the Naga Solution and then Peace in Manipur.

People may slam the Prime Minister but many still believe that he can charm his way in Manipur too.Modi has certain qualities in glib-talking. Most of the times he is convincing too. 

That is why US-based geopolitical analyst Fareed Zakaria (certainly not a RSS product) says -- "It's a testament to Modi's skill that despite being Prime Minister for 10 years, he's still viewed that way (as an outsider in elites-centric Delhi)." 

The mandarins in New Delhi today could sound clueless about ways to handle Manipur. 

The prestige or reputation of the Double Engine Sarkar was punctured long back. Yet, everyone acknowledged things were challenging.

The crisis in Manipur resurfaced this year coinciding with two totally different political developments - the downfall of Joe Biden's 'Democratic Party's empire'.in the US and the Maharashtra elections.

In Maharashtra too, the BJP has  been making a lot of noise about the efficacy of Double Engine model.But the Biren Singh Model so far has proved to be a disastrous. 

Did Joe Biden administration reallypushed the case of a 'Christian state' carving out of Bangladesh, India and Myanmar. 

In Imphal, a meeting of NDA leaders presided over by CM N Biren Singh condemned the action of certain persons who "humiliated ministers and MLAs" by attacking them and also burning and stealing their properties.

This is new in northeast and is a reflective of Dhaka violence in August. NIA will now examinevarious issues. 

Come what may, a Government in power has to perform. It has to ensure peace, harmony and tranquility. Hence, the Modi Govt cannot wash off its hands from Manipur mess and misgovernance in Nagaland.   

Tribal communities like Bodos and Karbis have their respective autonomous bodies. But they all areethnically different from Assamese people. But in Nagaland, the Naga society has split.

The BJP is already at the receiving end for Manipur flip-flop.

I spoke to a retired Meitei government official; he summed up the paradox in a tiny sentence - "....the cycle of time will bring Hope and the Despair and Negativity may rule the roost somewhere until then".

On this backdrop, I reflected upon what a key functionary in Delhi's corridors of power told 'Nagaland Page' --

 "If both communities Kukis and Meiteis - want to blame Centre to express their anger and would stop fighting against each other and ensure Peace; it will be a welcome development".

"If Peace comes at the cost of attacking Modi and Amit Shah, we will think we still won the battle and Peace has come". 

However, one point the centre seems sanguine about -- "We expect both the communities to shun the path of arson and violence and should talk to Centre to redress their grievances amicably". 

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"Time has come for us, Nagas, to stand in truth to walk the extra mile.... for Peace and Solution" - Congress MP, Supongmeren

"Naga National struggle continues to inspire across generations, and today as we stand on the cusp of realising the long envisioned solution to the decades long Naga Political issue, we acknowledge the sacrifices of the untold Naga National Workers, past and present," Congress MP from Nagaland, Supongmeren Jamir said in a statement. 

He said, "The time has come for us Nagas, to stand in truth to walk the extra mile and ensure that the hard fought agreements reached between the Naga National groups and the Government of India, namely, the 3rd August 2015 dated "Framework Agreement" and the 17th November 2017 dated "Agreed Position", is not jeopardised".

He also said that both these preliminary agreements should be "utilised as the basis to realise the long desired aspirations of the Naga people". 

"While we also acknowledge the courage and wisdom of successive Central Governments' that cumulatively enabled the inking of these momentous accords, the shared journey is however, far from over. 

The arduous journey will come to a full circle only when the present Central Government honors the sanctity of these agreements by implementing it without any further delay.

"Delayed implementation, risks and undermines the trust and hope that have been sacrificed and built over decades of negotiations. 

It is imperative to respect the core principles and objectives laid out in these Historic Agreements and recognise the rights and identity of us- Nagas.

"We expect and appeal the Government to implement and respond to the Agreements without any further delay as it has been for nearly a decade," he said. 

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